§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measure of theatre activity he uses to evaluate the productivity of theatre operating staff in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation about the staffing of operating theatres is not collected centrally. The steering group on Health Services information has proposed in its first report that district health authorities should submit annual returns showing operating theatre availability and use by specialty, and is at present considering what information should be collected on manpower and finance. No simple measure of staff productivity could be devised, as the number of staff needed for individual operations, and the speed at which they can work, will vary with the needs of individual patients.